Nightshift 49: 2nd Floor Staff Lounge

[guardiancomplex.livejournal.com]

(From here.)

Touya stepped through the door and stopped. He'd been in quite a few closets in his time of various kinds, and this was not a closet. Not unless Landel started storing couches and paintings of puppies in his closets. Did he take a wrong turn?

He turned to look outside the door, maybe check the plate on the front, but it slammed shut as Yue walked through. Dumbfounded and disoriented, Touya struggled for something to say.

"Uh..."

That was about all he had.

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[falseblack]

Five minutes passed. As promised, Nigredo stirred and opened an eye, before managing the other. A weight on one side brought his attention to the time, and he reached out with a good hand to touch a sibling's side. He did not know if Albedo had forgotten; probably not if he'd slept for the appointed time. Granted, there was a chance hours might have went by without a single warning, but he didn't think his brother would have stood for that.

"We can go now," he said.

[purgatio]

A touch came like a shock, and his head stretched to consider his brother. Despite Nigredo's words, Albedo didn't move, other than to reach awkwardly to the hand touching and hold it. "Nigredo..."

Would he touch here, press for confirmation? If Albedo could take that Nigredo wouldn't hurt him... Though it didn't matter, did it? That's what made it unfair. Physical harm had never mattered to this Variant. The things that needed trust were emotional in nature, and Albedo, despite leanings, had not yet allowed himself to even consider that. He was a hypocrite, and he knew this, but he would still move forward.

Of the two things touched on, one would not be spoken of. He had already decided that tonight. It left only an issue of trust, not altogether wrong. Albedo had tried to attack him multiple times, two nights ago even, and Nigredo wasn't wrong. To be wary. Except that now....

He pressed in to his brother's side more, the move unconscious. "Unless something changes... Unless something...." Words failed where explanation wanted. {I wouldn't hurt you. I won't hurt you. Understand.}

Please understand. Don't shut me out.

[falseblack]

Sense was lost, comprehension becoming an increasingly challenging effort. Here was a brother who claimed no harm to Nigredo's person. Who, days before, had shown contradicting tendencies. Who held an influence with what was their anti-existence, who was something of a time bomb when it came to moods and shifts. This same individual was promising the sort of kindness one would expect from a beloved.

It wasn't a lie. You could not create falsity with waveforms like you could with words. Albedo truly harbored no hidden nor dubious intentions; in this moment, he would never hurt Nigredo. Like he actually cared.

Therein was the crux. Moments such as these rarely lasted, and the child knew that something would change. They would fall back on inhibitions, duties, and habits, and the promise held now would no longer apply. This was why everything was useless.

He could believe him, but what would be the point?

Nigredo said nothing for a long moment, his conclusions churning uncomfortably within him. Logic knew that keeping silence or lying would do nothing between them. Complete truth, however, would only hurt, and one or more might react negatively. Simplicity, it seemed, was the only option available. The words formed before he could properly think.

{I understand.}

[purgatio]

Albedo pushed himself up, hands tracing the edge of Nigredo's leg. Did he really? Understand? The link didn't lie, but there was no way to tell if-- He swallowed again, contemplating the shifts to this place. The start of the evening the night before, and everything... Up to that point. Things had become complicated, confusing his mind and heart with the actions of both siblings, but in all of this--Albedo didn't want to see Nigredo cry again--motivations had begun to center around a simple truth.

"You're lonely," he said softly. "And I don't want to be alone. So don't be sad. I'm not--" Not. "...Going anywhere." A petty promise that. Their elder had left without a trace, beating heart tearing from a place it once-- Breathing had become difficult, and Albedo took in careful, shaky breaths.

[falseblack]

It was such a childish sentiment, asking someone not to be sad, to take comfort in another's presence. Though Nigredo was young in body and in certain parts of life, there existed an ancient component that refused the attempts at optimism, the straightforward solution to loneliness. Albedo was being kind but also naive. Proclamations and promises only served to worsen when they were broken. Because they would be broken, whether by will or not.

His gaze drifted to the side, before the child wiggled away from his brother to rise. Not to abandon but to continue forward. "I know," Nigredo said. He knew, despite the fact. "Are your feet okay?"

[purgatio]

There remained silence in turn; left untreated it would fester and worsen, but it is was, he was prompted by action, by responsibility. He had agreed. Promised movement and a half-hearted escape, and now stagnancy wasn't an option. Tomorrow, maybe. If they were still here, he would just... Rot.

He straightened further, pressed hands to the couch to rise in turn. "Yes," he answered clearly. A look, too complicated to detail, chanced a gaze to Nigredo. "All better now."

[falseblack]

A shadowed cheek was offered to Albedo as Nigredo stepped to retrieve the bottle left behind. The can was placed in its stead. "That's good," he stated gently. No lie. He was glad that Albedo was no longer treading on glass.

The child made to move toward the door but stopped a few steps before the threshold to allow his brother to catch up. Then, he touched the knob.

[To here.]